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Hickory County, MO Probate Information
Quick facts
| Item | Hickory County information |
|---|---|
| Court | Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Hickory County |
| Courthouse address | Hickory County Courthouse, 100 West Polk Street, Hermitage, MO 65668 |
| Mailing address | P.O. Box 345, Hermitage, MO 65668 |
| Phone | 417-745-6421 |
| Fax | 417-745-6670 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; some offices close for lunch from 12:00 p.m. to 12:30 p.m. |
| Court cost to start | No Hickory County itemized probate cost schedule is published. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective Sept. 1, 2023, sets state components of $115 when original letters are applied for, plus $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565, with one certified copy included. The same rule, effective Sept. 1, 2023, lists $35 for a small estate affidavit, $35 for refusal of letters, $35 for determination of heirship, $35 to admit a will to probate, and copy charges of $1 per page plus $1.50 per seal. Ask the Hickory County clerk for the current total due at filing. |
| Local forms | Use Missouri Courts statewide probate forms. The 30th Circuit local probate rule adds case-start documents, including a death certificate and the original testamentary document when one exists. |
| E-filing | 30th Circuit Rule 72 requires attorneys to e-file probate documents in PDF format. Non-attorney filings must carry the filing party's signature. Self-represented filers are not required to e-file under Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4). |
| Case search | Case.net, the Missouri statewide public case search, is the public browser lookup for circuit court cases. |
| Remote appearance | Ask the clerk before relying on a remote appearance for a probate hearing. |
| Website | Hickory County Circuit Clerk page: https://hickorycomo.net/circuit-clerk/ |
Before you begin — know the assets and liabilities
Before you choose a Hickory County probate path, list what the person owned, how each asset was titled, known debts, liens, and whether any account or deed already names a beneficiary. That inventory determines whether the family needs letters testamentary or letters of administration, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or a later determination of heirship.
Sunset can help with the first pass by searching more than 2,300 institutions for accounts and assets, then organizing the information for estate settlement. That local packet is easier to finish when you know whether the courthouse step in Hermitage needs a full estate filing or a narrower Missouri procedure.
Which court handles jurisdiction
The Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Hickory County serves estates venued in Hickory County from the courthouse in Hermitage. Hickory County is in Missouri's 30th Judicial Circuit with Benton, Dallas, Polk, and Webster counties, but that shared circuit does not send a Hickory County probate filing to another county's courthouse.
Missouri venue starts with the county where the decedent was domiciled. If the decedent had no Missouri domicile, venue can be in a county where Missouri property is located, with special rules when the major part of the Missouri estate is real estate (RSMo 473.010). Once letters are granted in Hickory County, estate proceedings continue in Hickory County (RSMo 473.010).
The jurisdiction process
- Identify the local path. Decide whether the estate needs letters testamentary or letters of administration, a small estate affidavit, a refusal of letters, or a determination of heirship. Missouri's small estate affidavit applies only when the entire estate, less liens, debts, and encumbrances, does not exceed $40,000 (RSMo 473.097, effective August 28, 2002).
- Gather the required papers. Use Missouri Courts probate forms and follow 30th Circuit Rule 72 by including a death certificate and the original testamentary document when a will exists. If relief depends on survivorship, the rule also calls for death certificates for predeceased heirs.
- File with the Hickory County clerk who serves as clerk of the probate division. The courthouse is at 100 West Polk Street in Hermitage, and mail goes to P.O. Box 345, Hermitage, MO 65668. Attorneys file electronically under the 30th Circuit probate rule. A self-represented filer should ask the clerk whether a particular filing can be accepted electronically, in person, or by mail.
- Pay the starting court cost. Because Hickory County does not publish an itemized probate cost schedule, ask the clerk for the current total. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective Sept. 1, 2023, sets state components of $115 for original letters and an added $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565.
- Handle notice. When letters are issued, the clerk causes notice of appointment and notice to creditors to be published once a week for four consecutive weeks (RSMo 473.033). Creditors then face Missouri's claims deadlines, including the six month or two month rule in RSMo 473.360 and the separate one year bar in RSMo 473.444.
- Follow the court's hearing instructions. Hickory County probate matters are heard by an Associate Circuit Judge exercising probate jurisdiction. Ask the clerk how the court will set any required probate hearing and whether any remote appearance option is available for that hearing.
- Receive authority if the court grants it. With a will, the authority document is letters testamentary. Without a will, it is letters of administration. A nonlawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, though the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7).
- Administer, account, and close. The personal representative collects probate assets, pays allowed expenses and claims, files the required inventory within thirty days after letters unless the court grants more time (RSMo 473.233), and completes the settlement or closing process required for the type of administration.
Forms and documents
Probate forms in Hickory County
Hickory County has not published a separate local probate packet. Use the Missouri Courts statewide probate forms and add the 30th Circuit Rule 72 case-start documents for Hickory County, including a death certificate and the original testamentary document when there is a will.
| Form or document | When it matters in Hickory County |
|---|---|
| FI-50 Confidential Case Filing Information Sheet, Probate and Non-Domestic Relations, updated July 2025 | Statewide probate case information sheet. |
| PR 16 Affidavit to Establish Title of Distributee, Small Estate, Intestate | Statewide small estate affidavit path when there is no will and the estate fits RSMo 473.097. |
| PR 23 Application of Creditor for Refusal of Letters, updated May 2023 | Statewide refusal of letters path for a creditor under RSMo 473.090. |
| PR 25 Application of Unmarried Minor Children for Refusal of Letters, updated May 2023 | Statewide refusal of letters path for unmarried minor children under RSMo 473.090. |
| PR 33 Application of Surviving Spouse for Refusal of Letters, updated May 2023 | Statewide refusal of letters path for a surviving spouse under RSMo 473.090. |
| PR 28 Petition for Determination of Heirship | Statewide heirship path when the statutory conditions in RSMo 473.663 are met. |
| PR 10 Statement of Reimbursable Attorney Fees, updated March 28, 2023 | Used when attorney fee reimbursement must be stated. |
| PR 75 Election of Surviving Spouse, updated April 5, 2022 | Used for a surviving spouse election when that issue is part of the estate. |
| Death certificate | Required by 30th Circuit Rule 72 to commence every decedent's estate matter. |
| Original testamentary document | Required by 30th Circuit Rule 72 at case commencement when a will exists. |
Local nuance
Hickory County-specific considerations
| Local point | What it means for a Hickory County filing |
|---|---|
| 30th Judicial Circuit | Hickory County shares the 30th Judicial Circuit with Benton, Dallas, Polk, and Webster counties, but Hickory County estate papers are filed at the Hickory County courthouse in Hermitage. |
| Attorney e-filing | 30th Circuit Rule 72 requires attorney probate filings to be made electronically in PDF format and signed by the attorney or firm. |
| Self-represented signatures | The same local rule says filings by non-attorneys bear the filing party's signature. Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4) says self-represented filers are not required to e-file. |
| Case-start documents | Every decedent's estate matter must begin with a death certificate, and with the original testamentary document if one exists. Copies of death certificates for predeceased heirs are required when relief is based on survivorship. |
| Single local counter | The Hickory County page describes one Circuit Clerk's office. Use the clerk of the probate division terminology in filings, and use the courthouse address and mailing address listed above unless the clerk gives a case-specific instruction. |
Recent updates
| Update | What changed |
|---|---|
| 30th Circuit probate local rule effective February 1, 2016 | Rule 72 sets attorney e-filing, non-attorney signature, death certificate, and original testamentary document requirements for probate filings in the 30th Circuit. |
| 30th Circuit Law Day rule amended effective January 1, 2017 | Rule 2.3 sets county Law Days for circuit judge dockets in the 30th Circuit. The rule does not establish a separate published Hickory County probate hearing schedule. |
| Missouri probate form updates | The statewide probate forms page lists FI-50 as updated July 2025 and several refusal of letters forms as updated May 2023. |
Scenarios
| Situation | Likely Hickory County path | Where Sunset helps |
|---|---|---|
| Surviving spouse with a co-owned home | First confirm how the home was titled. Property passing outside probate may not need letters, but a surviving spouse may still need a refusal of letters under RSMo 473.090 or a full estate filing if probate assets remain. If a court filing is needed, use the Hickory County courthouse in Hermitage. | Sunset helps identify accounts, deeds, beneficiary designations, and debts so the spouse can see whether estate settlement needs a court order or a narrower filing. |
| Out-of-state adult child with a small estate | If the net estate meets the Missouri small estate affidavit rule, the adult child may be able to use the statewide small estate process after the required waiting period (RSMo 473.097). Ask the Hickory County clerk about paper, mail, or electronic options for the specific filing. | Sunset organizes the asset list and can generate a probate packet for review before anything is sent to Hermitage. |
| Parent settling predeceased child's estate, home must be sold | If the home is still in the child's name and no nonprobate transfer controls it, the parent may need letters or, after the statutory conditions are met, a determination of heirship. Real estate steps can also require recording a certified court document with the recorder of deeds after the probate division acts. | Sunset helps gather property and account information, then connects the family with a Missouri probate attorney when a sale, letters, or a hearing is likely. |
Self-help resources
| Resource | How it helps | Contact or link |
|---|---|---|
| Hickory County Circuit Clerk | Local courthouse contact for filing location, current court cost totals, hours, and case-specific hearing instructions. | 100 West Polk Street, P.O. Box 345, Hermitage, MO 65668; 417-745-6421; https://hickorycomo.net/circuit-clerk/ |
| Missouri Courts probate forms | Statewide probate forms, including small estate, refusal of letters, heirship, and related probate forms used in Missouri probate divisions. | Missouri Courts website, Probate Forms page |
| Case.net | Missouri statewide public case lookup for circuit court cases, including probate division dockets. Use it as a browser search, not an automated tool. | https://www.courts.mo.gov/casenet/ |
| Legal Aid of Western Missouri | Free civil legal aid intake for eligible low-income Missourians in the service area that includes Hickory County. Probate help depends on the program's intake rules. | 816-474-6750; https://www.lsmo.org/page/951/offices |
| Missouri Revisor of Statutes | Official source for the Missouri probate statutes cited on this page. | https://revisor.mo.gov/ |
| The Missouri Bar probate guide | Consumer guide published by The Missouri Bar for general background on Missouri probate law. | https://missourilawyershelp.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Probate-Guide-Updated-2024.pdf |
When to hire an attorney
Attorney help makes sense in Hickory County when the estate needs letters, a hearing, a real estate sale, disputed heirs, creditor problems, or any court appearance by the personal representative. Missouri law says a personal representative who is not a lawyer cannot appear in court except through an attorney, although the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). Sunset connects families with a vetted attorney.
How Sunset helps
Find the accounts and assets. Sunset searches across more than 2,300 institutions and helps turn scattered account, property, and debt information into an estate settlement inventory.
Generate the probate packet. Sunset uses the facts you provide to organize the forms and supporting documents for the Missouri path that fits, including Hickory County's local requirement to start a decedent's estate matter with a death certificate and any original testamentary document.
Find a local probate attorney. When a Hickory County estate needs letters, a real estate sale, a hearing, or counsel for the personal representative, Sunset can connect the family with a vetted Missouri probate attorney.
Sunset is free for families. Families can use Sunset's estate settlement tools, asset discovery, probate packet support, and attorney connection at no cost.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file probate papers in Hickory County?
File with the clerk of the Probate Division of the Circuit Court of Hickory County at the Hickory County Courthouse, 100 West Polk Street, Hermitage, MO 65668. Mail goes to P.O. Box 345, Hermitage, MO 65668.
Does Hickory County require e-filing for probate?
30th Circuit Rule 72 requires attorneys to e-file probate documents in PDF format. Filings by non-attorneys must carry the filing party's signature, and self-represented filers are not required to e-file under Court Operating Rule 27.03(b)(4). Ask the clerk whether the specific filing you want to make can be submitted electronically, in person, or by mail.
What forms do I use for Hickory County probate?
Use the Missouri Courts statewide probate forms. Hickory County has not published a separate local probate packet, but 30th Circuit Rule 72 adds required case-start documents, including a death certificate and the original testamentary document when a will exists.
What does it cost to start a Hickory County estate case?
Hickory County does not publish an itemized probate cost schedule. Court Operating Rule 21.01, effective Sept. 1, 2023, sets the state component at $115 when original letters are applied for, plus $50 for each additional $50,000 of final inventory value above $50,000 up to $500,000, capped at $565. The same rule, effective Sept. 1, 2023, lists $35 for a small estate affidavit, $35 for refusal of letters, $35 for determination of heirship, and $35 to admit a will to probate. Call the Hickory County clerk for the current total due for your filing.
Can I look up a Hickory County probate case online?
Use Case.net, Missouri's statewide public case lookup for circuit court cases. Public Case.net is a docket lookup and should not be treated as a place where every document can be read online.
Do I have to travel to Hermitage for a Hickory County probate filing?
Maybe. Attorneys use e-filing under the 30th Circuit rule. A self-represented person should call the Hickory County clerk at 417-745-6421 to ask whether the particular filing can be handled by mail or another accepted method before making travel plans.
Can I appear remotely for a Hickory County probate hearing?
Do not assume a remote appearance is available. If the court sets a hearing, ask the clerk for the judge's instructions before the hearing date.
Can a small estate affidavit work in Hickory County?
It can work when the Missouri statutory requirements are met, including that the entire estate, less liens, debts, and encumbrances, does not exceed $40,000 (RSMo 473.097, effective August 28, 2002). The affidavit is filed with the clerk of the probate division, and the clerk's certificate is the document a bank or title company will usually need.
Do I need a lawyer for Hickory County probate?
Missouri draws an important line. A nonlawyer personal representative cannot appear in court except through an attorney, but the personal representative may prepare and file their own inventories and settlements (RSMo 473.153.7). Small estate affidavits and refusals of letters do not appoint a personal representative, so families often ask the clerk about those paths when the facts fit.
Shaped by the families we've helped
Thank you to the thousands of families who have trusted Sunset to help settle their loved ones' estates. This page is shaped by the questions they actually asked and the obstacles they actually hit — and that hard-won experience is what keeps it accurate, current, and genuinely useful to the families who come next.